The policy report, sponsored by Bristol
Water, embraces all aspects of pesticide use in the County and includes a set of
guidance notes which will assist council officers and contractors in
implementing the policy. The motivating force behind development of the policy
was Avon’s positive health and safety policies, but environmental factors are
a major consideration in its aims and objectives. The group which guided the
policy’s evolution is the Chemicals Approval Group. This includes officers
from throughout the Council who specify, use or have concerns about the
potential harmful effects of pesticides.
The objectives of the Pest Management Policy include the
consideration of non-chemical alternatives where practicable and cost-effective,
the selection of least hazardous pesticides which can do the same job as more
toxic ones, and the withdrawal from County use of pesticides which appear on the
UK Red List and EU Black List and those which are classified by UK authorities
as posing unacceptable hazards to health or the environment. Other objectives
include a requirement to adhere to relevant legislation, the provision of
information on pesticides used by the County and safe and proper use of
pesticides.
Superficially it would seem that the Council has done little
more than state that it will do what is already required by law. However, a more
informed interpretation of the objectives reveals that Avon has taken a bold
step beyond legal requirements. Not only will the Council ensure that the
Control of Pesticides Regulations (1986) and the Control of Substances Hazardous
to Health (COSHH) Regulations (1988) will be adhered to, but active steps will
be taken to prevent the use of pesticides in general where practicable, as well
as effectively banning some pesticides from use by the County even when those
pesticides are authorised by central government.
Guidance notes appended to the Pest Management Policy cover
the professional use of pesticides, small scale use, disposal, timber treatment
and the control of rodents. A series of information notes provide additional
information to users of the policy who might otherwise not have access to it.
These include the list of approved and non-approved pesticide active ingredients
for use in Avon County Council, the UK Red List and EC Black list, botanical and
wildlife advice, non-chemical methods of pest control, health and safety and
other reference sources and contacts.
At the launch of the Policy, the chairman of the Chemicals
Approval Group, R. Fudge unashamedly announced that much of the content of the
policy document had been taken from existing information and advice leaflets and
books. This had saved a great deal of effort and allowed the County to provide
accurate and coherent information to users of the policy. Mr Fudge invited
others to use Avon’s policy in the same way. (MD)
Copies of the Avon County Council Pest
Management Policy are available from The Planning Department, Avon County
Council, P.O. Box 46, Middlegate, Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol BS99 7EU at
a cost of £10 including post and packaging.
[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 25, September 1994, page 19]